ShowMeTheJustice - February 26, 2019

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Tyler Flood for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 2148786 out of County Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of DWI (Presiding judge Sherman Ross)

(The following cases are felony – including RIC – and all trial setting dismissals derived from the Harris County District Clerk’s website – dockets tab. I examine each dismissal form before posting, post only those defendants who are free of charges and for which I have an attorney photo. These and non-photo cases are entered into the Defense Attorney spreadsheet published on Saturdays. Felony and misdemeanor dismissals are published in the spreadsheets below)

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Murray Newman for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1600378 out of the 178th Criminal District Court for the offense of Tampering with Evidence

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Allison Secrest for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1603441 out of the 178th Criminal District Court for the offense of Failure to Stop and Render Aid

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Peter DeLeef for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1592480 out of the 178th Criminal District Court for the offense of Forgery

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Cindy Marshall for earning a trial setting felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1538355 out of the 176th Criminal District Court for the offense of DWI 3rd

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Robert Valles for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1606776 out of the 180th Criminal District Court for the offense of Fraudulent Use of IDs

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Larry Douglas for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1615330 out of the 180th Criminal District Court for the offense of Injury to a Child

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Doug Murphy (and to his cilent) for earning a felony PTI dismissal in Cause Number 1549312 out of the 208th Criminal District Court for the offense of DWI with child under 15yrs old

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Jimmy Ortiz for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1598279 out of the 228th Criminal District Court for the offense of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Jimmy Ortiz for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1506869 out of the 339th Criminal District Court for the offense of Burglary of Habitation

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Jeanie Dickey for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1506870 out of the 339th Criminal District Court for the offense of Burglary of Habitation

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Wilvin Carter for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1602461 out of the 228th Criminal District Court for the offense of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Gerald Fry for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1550933 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of Aggravated Robbery

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Dick DeGuerin for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1592897 out of the 228th Criminal District Court for the offense of Money Laundering $150K – $300K

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Stephanie Martin for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1600853 out of the 182nd Criminal District Court for the offense of Theft $2500 – $30K

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Jason Johnson for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1599365 out of the Reintegration Criminal District Court for the offense of Possession of Controlled Substance

SECOND CASE INVOLVING DRUG RAID OFFICER IS DISMISSED

“A second felony drug case involving an embattled Houston police narcotics officer already under investigation was dismissed Monday, this time in the “interest of justice.” Click on the star to see the story – by Keri Blakinger

INTERLOCK DEVICE DID NOT PREVENT DWI ACCIDENT

“A man with three prior DWI convictions struck a pedestrian while intoxicated over the weekend, despite having an interlock device that should have prevented him from driving in the first place, according to the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office.” Click on the star to see the story – by Samantha Ketterer

MISDEMEANOR JUDGE CLEARED BY GRAND JURY

“After a Harris County misdemeanor judge testified before a grand jury on Monday, he was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in a police investigation of allegations that he grabbed two women in his courtroom.” Click on the star to see the story – by Brian Rogers

PHILADELPHIA SHOWS BOND REFORM WORKS – EDITORIAL

“If you want to see the future of bail reform in Texas, look to Philadelphia. Beginning last February, District Attorney Larry Krasner refused to seek cash bail for dozens of nonviolent offenses, enough to comprise 61 percent of his office’s cases, ranging from shoplifting to DUI to small-time pot dealing. That’s turned Philadelphia into a testing ground for criminal justice reform, and critics and supporters alike have been anxious to see the results. Last week they finally got their answer — one that should encourage advocates and give detractors serious pause.” Click on the star to see the story – by Opinion Editor

Texas PEC Opinion 679 – Legal Fees May Be Modified

Following Texas caselaw addressing similar issues, the Committee concluded that a lawyer handling litigation for a client on a fixed, flat fee may renegotiate the fee if the modification is “fair under the circumstances.” The Committee also tracked Texas court decisions in noting that the lawyer bears the “burden of proving fairness” for the modification. The Committee noted that that factual issue will depend upon “factors such as the length of the lawyer-client relationship, whether the reason for the renegotiation could have been anticipated at the outset of the representation, and the client’s level of sophistication.